Freezing Point Depression Activity: Ice CreamSpring brings showers, sunshine, and the prospect of summer break. Celebrate with this cool, fun activity. It requires just a few inexpensive materials and can be the basis of an engaging lesson on colligative properties. View »

Periodic Table MysteryP is less dense than S. S is an alkali metal. E is a noble gas. In this activity, students generate a periodic table from clues and predict the missing properties of several elements based on the elements’ locations in the table.
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Introduction to Prokaryotes: BacteriaWhat are bacteria? In this introductory lab students make smears of bacteria on microscope slides from pure cultures, perform a simple stain, and observe their stained slides under a microscope View »

Investigating Seed GerminationThe story of how a seed becomes a plant is fascinating to young students. These activities for grades K-4 will help your students explore the process of germination, seed structure, and early seedling growth. View »

Isolating Bacteria from a MixtureHow does a microbiologist isolate bacteria from a sample? In this lab students practice streaking a plate to isolate a single species of bacterium from a known mixture. View »

Seed GerminationIn this inquiry activity students in grades 5-10 design and conduct an experiment to investigate factors that may affect seed germination. View »

Air Pollution: Tropospheric Ozone, Particulates, and Indoor Carbon Dioxide"Bad" ozone, dangerous particulates, and significant CO2 buildup—in and around your school! Access a series of field tests students can use to measure your school’s tropospheric ozone levels and the number of deposited particulates in different locations, and to study how carbon dioxide concentrations indoors vary throughout the school day. View »

Fractional Distillation of a Carbonated Soft DrinkHow is crude oil refined into many valuable products? Students can find out with this lab activity. Substituting a soft drink for crude oil, they use fractional distillation to separate the soft drink into its components, or fractions. View »

An Inquiry into Seed GerminationThis NGSS-aligned activity is a student inquiry into factors that affect seed germination.Use it as an introduction for plant studies in biology or as an environmental impact investigation in earth science, environmental science, or agricultural science. View »

Beads in a BottleDensity is a characteristic property of matter. In this activity, students apply their understanding of density to explain observations about immiscible liquids and objects suspended in them. Includes a materials list and step-by-step instructions. View »